Budget Airline Oasis HK Launches Vancouver Route

After emerging as the world's pioneering long-haul, low-cost airline with the launch of its Hong Kong-London route last October, Oasis Hong Kong has launched today its new long-haul route.

Oasis' 12-hour, non-stop flight from Hong Kong International Airport will bring travelers to Vancouver six days a week.

To service their passengers going to Canada, Oasis Hong Kong has purchased three additional Boeing 747-400s from All Nippon Airways (ANA), and have expanded their in-flight resources by 200 cockpit and cabin crew members.

Stephen Miller, chief executive officer for Oasis Hong Kong Airlines said in the airline's press release: "Vancouver is very appealing to Hong Kong people as both a business and leisure destination, and there is a high demand for flights to Vancouver out of Hong Kong. We are pleased to be able to respond to our consumer's needs by offering this super value service."

The great value offered by Oasis is easily judged by the price of their economy class return tickets, starting at as little as HK$3,980 (US$509) and HK$18,000 ($2,303) return for business class.

Ticket prices are available via their website and are nearly 50 percent cheaper than that offered by Oasis' direct competitor.

In addition, for at least one year, the airline also guarantees that it will provide 10 percent of economy class seats on every flight at HK$1,990 ($255) one way.

The Vancouver route is expected to follow the success story of Oasis' first international destination London, with tickets starting at HK$1,000 ($128) one way. To date, the budget airline has flown more than 100,000 passengers on that route.

Miller said the response from customers on the London flights had been overwhelmingly positive.

"We've had tremendous feedback from our customers. The people of Hong Kong have really embraced us, for whom we are grateful," he said.

"The compliments we have received, especially from our business travelers, have given us the encouragement to now extend the same superior product and service experience to the much awaited Vancouver route."

Now in operation for eight months, Oasis Hong Kong is quickly gaining nods from global travelers by providing premium services that are unusual in budget airlines, such as online check-in, free hot meals and personal in-flight entertainment.

On the Internet, fans call Oasis Hong Kong "a very solid airline with much better service than short-haul budget airlines", praise its "fantastic value" and "friendly cabin crew", while a travel blog dubs it "the best travel newcomer of 2006".

Over the next five years and with a projected 25 aircraft, Oasis Hong Kong plans to fly to more leading aviation hubs in Europe and North America, including Chicago and San Francisco in the United States, as well as Milan and Berlin.

It seems the world is becoming a bit more accessible in an amazingly affordable way.